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WjiS/fLYGTOJV, March 2, 1807. 
SIR, 

I HAVE determined, from a sense of duty to those I have 
represented during the present session of Congi-ess, to offer for 
your consideration a summary of the most important measures 
which have been tefore us, and such information about the fo- 
reign relations of this country as has been communicated. 

In noticing the occurrences of the present session, none 
more deserve attention, than the expedition of Burr. It has been 
rendered interesting by the celebrity of the man, the mischief he 
contemplated to the community and the manner in which his de- 
signs have been defeated. His schemes were a long time en- 
veloped in mystery, and were secretly ascomplishing under 
pretences which scarcely excited suspicion. It was generally 
believed he was preparing the means of an enterprize against 
the Spanish provinces, and as such it was announced to Con- 
gress by the President of the United States, in his message of 
December od, " that a great number of private individuals were 
combining together, arming and organizing themselves contra- 
ry to law, to carry on a military expedition against the territo- 
ries of Spain ;" some time elapsed before any thing more definite 
was known ; until it was ascertained that efforts had been made 
to corrupt the commander in chief and army of the U. States, 
with the design of seizing New Orleans, revolutionizing the 
country, and effecting a separation of the Union. This intel- 
ligence was received from gen. Wilkinson, and was contained 
in a letter from Burr to him, which states, " the enterprise was 
begun, funds provided, and detachments of men were to meet 
on the Ohio, the first of Noveinber, under different pretences, 
that every thing favored his views, both internal and external — 
protection from England was secured — Truxtun had gone to 
Jamaica, to arrange with the admiral on that station, and to 
meet at the mouth of the Mississippi." In another pai't of the 
letter, he says, " the project is brought to the p#int so long de- 
sired, and guarantees the result with his life and honor, the lives, 
honor, and fortunes of hundreds, the.Wfc^J^^loodof our countiy.'"' 
It would indeed be a irielanchoUy circumstance if this assertion 
vv^ere true. I feel certain, there are but few men in this country, 
so depraved, so lost to every sentiment of virtue and patriotism, 
as to join in a plan which, if successful, would draw ruin on the 
nation, and imprint an indelible stain on its character ; I there- 
fore believe it a base aspersion ; many who followed him, and 
participated in the expedition, were deluded by the artifices oi 



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himself and emissaries. Events have demonstrated that the 
ineans by which these plans were to be executed, were (for ob- 
vious reasons) magnified and overrated — his expectations of aid 
from the western people, were unfounded, — and the moment 
they were undeceived bj'the proclamation of the President, and 
opposed bv the state authorities, they dispersed and abandoned 
a man, to whose banners they had repaired, under the supposed 
countenance of the government of the United States ; succours 
from England have equallv failed him, and there is reason to be- 
lieve that Truxtun, so far from co-operating, had given the ear- 
liest intelligence of his treachery. If the commander of the army 
(upon which he appears to have relied) had listened to his over- 
ture, and the army had yielded to seduction, in ail human proba- 
bility his o' jects would have been effected, and he would have 
remained in possesion of Orleans for a short time; but happily 
for our country, they were rejected, and steps were inunediately 
taken, which term'nated in an arrangement with the Spaniards, 
in that quarter, which enabled the American forces to withdraw 
from the Sabine river, to New Orleans, and there resist any at- 
tempt against the place ; the latest accounts state, that Burr and 
his party had surrendered themselves prisoners, and had been 
delivered in custody to tlie civil power of the Mississippi terri- 
tory. Thus has ended this conspiracv, surpassed by nothing in 
the annals of our history, for baseness ; crippled in its progress, 
by the vigilance of the general and state governments, and finally 
suppressed without bloodshed, by the patriotism of the people. 
During the agitation and alarms of the public mind, produced 
by the conspiracy, and while its extent was unknown, the Senate 
proposed a bill suspending the writ of habeas corpus, for three 
months ; this bill was rejected by a very large majority in the 
licosc. of Representatives, as unnecessary to secui'e the tran- 
quillity of the country, and extremely dangerous as an example, 
I shall mention a few laws which have passed : — ^n act extend- 
ing the time for locating Virginia military land warrants. The 
holders of these warrants are allowed a further time of three 
years to locate^fhem in the tract of country reserved by the state 
of Virginia, and granted to the soldiers in her service during 
the last war. A law pr^lnbiting the importation of slaves into 
the United States, after the 31st of December, 1807. A bill 
from the Senate to raise an additional nunnber of regular troops, 
is now before the House of Representatives, but I believe it will 
not pass ; for myself, I think the present military establishment 
with the aid of the militia on our frontiers, sufficient to repel the 
attempts of the adjacent Indians or Spaniards, if they meditate 
mischief, and am therefore unwilling to incur an expense of a 
million of dollara annually when there is no necessity existing. 



In November, when the Spaniards crossed the Sabine river, and 
occupied the country on this side claimed by the United States, 
our army was ordered to drive them back by force, if necessary; 
the commanding officer discharged 4(X) militia, drawn from 
INiississippi territory, after ascertaining their real numbers ; from 
this circumstance, it is evident our present force is sufficient to 
maintain the country against the Spaniards, with any number of 
men they can collect from their thinly settled provinces to the 
west of the Mississippi, the important settlements of which are 
very remote and can only be brought to the field, with great 
difficult}^, nor is it probable, after the arrangements between 
gen. Wilkinson and the Spanish commanders, we shall be again 
molested, until our negociations with Spain have terminated ; 
they declare their instructions positively forbid any aggression 
on the United States, and have agreed not to enter the disputed 
countries until the title is settled by the two countries ; but to pro- 
vide against events Avhich may require the interposition of mi- 
litary force we have authorised the President to accept the ser- 
vices of 30,000 volunteers, to be employed against any foe, for 
two years, to be paid and governed by the regulations of war, 
when engaged in actual service, provided the officers shall be 
appointed by the executive of the states to which the\ respec- 
tively belong. This number of men can be easily procured and 
will be always ready, without expense tf^ the goverhment; they 
will be competent, to avert danger until stronger measures can 
be adopted, and will relieve others from service, whose families 
and pursuits would render them averse to military duty unless 
their country was really endangered, and required general ex- 
ertions from the people. 

I shall now take a view of a very important law passed this 
session, to expedite the payment of the whole of the national 
debt. In 1801, eight millions of dollars were annually appropri- 
ated for this purpose, and such has been the effect of this law, 
that on the first day of January last, twenty four millions dollars, 
principal of the debt, had been paid off, and during the present 
and next year nine and a half millions more will be paid — mak- 
ing on the first day of January, 1809, thirty f|||Hyancl a half mil- 
lions of dollars; and leaving a balance of 57,491,838 dollars, 
due from the United States to their creditors. After the period 
last mentioned, from the terms of the original contract betwcea 
the government and those who own the debt, only four miU'ons 
and a half of dollars can be paid towards its extinguishment ; 
this sum will, " in the year 1824, have discharged ail demands 
against the United States, except the 3 per cent, stock, amount- 
ing to nineteen millions, and bearing an interest of 570,583 dol- 
lars ; but if the public creditors will consent to modify the debt. 



and accept stock reimburslble within seven years, (agreeable 
to the provisions of the law,) the whole debt will be discharged 
in 1821 ; and calculating the revenue and expenditures of the 
govex-nment, to continue what they are at present, there would 
be an accumulation of at least fifteen millions surplus revenue. 
Another very material benefit will result to the United States, 
from the proposed comhiutation of the debt, without doing in- 
justice or injury to the public creditors: Nineteen millions of 
the stock bear an interest of only three per cent, in perpetuitv, 
unless the government shall choose to advance to the holders of 
it, the amount of its nominal value; while money continues 
worth six per cent, it is evident we shall never throw away what 
yields six per cent, to pay a debt bearing only three. In order 
to obviate this difficulty, the secretary of the treasury is autho- 
rised to compound with the owners of this stock, and purchase 
it up at the price at which it is bought and sold in the market, 
between individuals, by issuing a new six percent, stock to that 
amount, redeemable at the pleasure of the U. States, after they 
have satisfied all other claims, except that for the purchase of 
Louisiana. Instead, therefore, of being saddled with the per- 
petual charge of 570,583 dollars, annually, or paying nineteen 
millions of dollars, we shall be discharged from both by advanc- 
ing about fourteen millions. Unless this measure had been 
adopted after 1809, the commissioners of the sinking fund 
would have had no other way of applying one half of the annual 
appropriation of eight millions, than by making purchases ; and 
it is believed that purchases, annually, to the amount of four 
millions, would raise the six per cent, stocks considerably above 
par, and the three per cents, to the highest price possible ; " as a 
necessary consequence, they would cease to purchase, and the 
United States would continue to be incumbered for a number 
of years with the eight per cent, and in perpetuity with the 
three per cent, annuities ; years the most favorable for the extin- 
guishment of the debt, would elapse, and periods might follow, 
when the pressure of annual payments would be sensibly felt ; 
to improve th^n^ent time is most consistent with the public 
opinion, and t^^^rmer acts of the legislature." Who can 
doubt the propriety of this policy ? Is it not better than to suffer 
these large sums to remain in the treasury, and at some future 
period to be wasted with prodigality, or employed for purposes 
of corruption, and in times of difficulty, overwhelm the commu- 
nity with taxes, which otherwise would never be wanted, either 
ior purposes of defence, or internal improvement. It is a fact, 
that the revenue of the United States, even in its present state, 
would be sufficient to meet any emergency, but for the debt with 
which it is dogged; let it however be recollected, this debt is 



justly due, and ought to be honestly paid. It is the compensa- 
tion given to those who rendered services, and furnished the 
means by which our revolutionary war against England was 
maintained, and our independence atchieved. It is the price 
we have paid for the liberty we enjoy, and the happiness we ex- 
pect; but let it also be recollected, it is our duty to discharge it 
speedily, and not permit that which annihilated foreign tyranny 
to grow and establish domestic servitude. 

I have been minute on this subject, because it is one of the 
most valuable effects which flow from that peaceable course 
pursued by the government of the United States ; which is 
characterised by preserving strict neutrality towards foreign 
nations, treating them all with justice, and participating in the 
quarrels of none ; reposing entire confidence in the people them- 
selves, to repress insurrections, repel invasions, and preserve 
tranquillity ; avoiding military preparations which can never be 
wanting to restrain freemen, and would be inadequate to resist 
foreign attacks, which only consume the public money, without, 
promoting the public prosperity ; in fine, which consists in the 
retrenchment of all useless expenses, the abolition of unnes- 
cessary establishments of every kind ; the repeal of taxes, 
whose proceeds are almost absorbed in their collection, and 
serve only to enlarge the circle of executive patronage, without 
enriching the public treasury. Nothing but the intervention of 
war can retard or defeat this career of national prosperity ; and 
when I consider our distance from the nations of Europe, the 
unsettled state of that continent, and the motives which the 
principal powers have (especially while engaged in war with 
one another,) to cultivate harmony with us, I cannot but hope, 
our tranquility will remain undisturbed, until we have effected 
the great purposes for which peace is so peculiarly desirable. 

We have passed a bill continuing the Mediterranean fund 
imtil January next, and repealing the duty of eight cents laid on 
salt, in 1797, on the 30th of June, and the remaining twelve 
after the 30th of September. I could have wished the whole 
duty to be taken off at once, but the Senate has rejected the bill 
containing that provision, and I think the present mode, if the 
Senate will concur, preferable to the continuance of the tax, 
probably for years. 

The law passed at the last session, prohibiting the importation 
of certain articles of merchandise from England into the United 
States, has been suspended until July next. It was under- 
stood that negociations were proceeding favorably, and promised 
an advantageous issue to this country, and that the further suspen- 
sion of this law, by affording a proof of confidence in the friendly 



disposition of the British government, would tend to facili- 
tate a final accommodation ot all differences between the two 
nations. I was in favor of the measure, because I feel deter- 
mined to adopt every plan which will secure peace, without 
surrendering the national honor. 

An event has recently occurred, which supercedes the neces- 
sity of our enforcing the provisions ot this law, unless indeed 
there shall be a repetition of injuries tov/ards the commerce and 
citizens of the United States, we have been olHciallv informed 
that a treaty was signed on the 31st of December, between this 
country and Great Britain, and although the terms are still un- 
known, irom the character of the American minister, and the as- 
surance we have received that the great points of difference have 
been settled, 1 feel confident its provisions will be satisfactory, 
past injuries will be redressed, commerce will be protected 
in future, and the seamen of this country preserved from im- 
pressment . 

The late decree of the French emperor, declaring England 
in a state of blockade, and interdicting all intercourse with that 
island, gave great and just apprehensions to the people at large ; 
they feared their vessels and property wou'd have bceo seized 
and confiscated, and their country in resisting practice upon 
such a principle, would have been involved in unavoidable dif- 
ficulties. A letter from the minister of marine in France, to 
general Armstrong, (laid before Congress^ assures him the de- 
cree is not intended to affect American trade, and that the con- 
vention of 1800 continues to form the rule by which the French 
ciuizers will be governed towards us. It remains to be seen, 
whether this explanation is authorised, and we should regulate 
cur conduct by that result. 

I should be extremely gratified if I could announce the ter- 
mination of all differences between this country and Spain, the 
only nation with whom we have any misunderstanding : the 
latest accounts mention a commissioner had been appointed, and 
had met the American minister to treat upon the subject, but the 
result has not yet transpired. I entenain very little doubt, that 
when the termination of Burr's conspiracy, and the warm, un- 
shaken attachment of the western people to the Union are known 
in Europe, Spain will be convinced of the impossibility ol dis- 
membering the Union, the futility ci tampering with our citizens 
and roused to a sense of danger for her weak, defenceles colo- 
nies, which are only preserved to her by the good faith of this 
government, and its exertions to restrain those that are ready to 
wrest them from her. The treaty with England will have con- 
siderable effect : Spain will know while her ships are driven 



from sea, her distant settlements menaced by expeditions from 
England, it will be impossible to send aid to her provinces adja- 
cent to us, and that thej- must fall the moment they are attacked. 
From every view I am able to take of this subjecr, it does appear 
to me that we shall avoid a conflict with Spain ; but if that 
should not be the case, I do not apprehend the least injury from 
any force she can oppose to that of the United States. 

I cannot conclude without congratulating you on the happy 
state of our country ; while every other portion of the globe is 
doomed to suffer the miseries of war, and the oppression of des- 
potic power, we enjoy profound peace, and exemption from vio- 
lence } our national debt is rapidly extinguished, our commerce 
extended to every sea, our revenue growing with unexampled 
quickness, and our resources of every kind equalling the expec- 
tations of the most ardent friend of his country. The perpetua- 
tion of these blessings depends upon ourselves : the happy des- 
tiny of this country can never be changed while the Union is 
supported, and the constitution maintained and administered in 
its true meaning and spirit. 

I have now communicated what appeared to me most impor- 
tant to be known. I do not attribute to myself any merit for 
our prosperous condition, but I can with truth declare, I have 
never lost sight of what I thought was the public interest, and 
that as long as you continue to intrust me with your confidence, 
the same sentiments will govern my conduct. 

Accept my best wishes. 

WILLIAM A. BURWELL. 



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